We Don't "Got This"

Things changed about 25 years ago. 

During district meetings, if a teacher brought up how we should be involving the family, district folks and admin started to say -

"Well, we can't control that, so let's talk about what we can control."

It was a subtle, but tectonic shift.

On the face, there was a certain logic to it. We can't control what families do, this is true.

However, the practical upshot was that families started to interpret this as... "Don't worry about educating your child, we got this."

But we don't.  We don't got this.

Over the years, more and more kids arrived at school without foundational pieces in place.  Joey could read Dr. Seuss but Jimmy didn't even know his letters.  Sally has been read to nightly since infancy, but Sarah never experienced a book until she came to kindergarten.

Reading proficiency rates dropped like a rock through a wet paper bag.  Fingers were pointed every which way.  It was the whole-language debacle!  Phonics will fix this!  We need better instructional practices!

Every solution has been tried (repeatedly) except the most obvious one.  

America and its schools need to communicate to parents that their involvement is pivotal.  It is not optional and we will not be ok without it.

We don't "got this."  

Parents do.  

Until that is the reality we face, we will continue to rearrange chairs on the Titanic.